2007-10-25 09:49:20 · 4 answers · asked by Osmosis 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Classical
An opera is a lavish (usually) piece of music theatre, complete with cast, acting, sets, scenery and costumes. Operas quite commonly last a whole evening.
A cantata (from the Italian 'cantare' - to sing) is a purely concert hall piece (or, in the time of Bach, designed for performance in the church). There are usually a lot fewer singers (maybe up to four singers plus a choir and orchestra) and the duration is usually between, say, 20 and 50 minutes.
I hope this clarifies things a little.
2007-10-25 11:04:33 · answer #1 · answered by del_icious_manager 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Opera is exciting, it requires knowledge of several forms of art (ie, singing and acting), whereas cantatas are BORING.
2007-10-26 09:33:08 · answer #2 · answered by Apollo Granforte 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scots Pines has nailed the critical difference. Beyond that, with the passing of time, so many different forms have been adopted by different composers in different eras, yet all have applied the term 'cantata' to their confections regardless, that it has become a 'whatever you please' form, except for that one criterion.
2007-10-25 12:34:21 · answer #3 · answered by CubCur 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Opera is staged, has costumes and scenery
2007-10-25 09:59:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋